Wreaths Across America honors those who served

New Baltimore residents Jeanine DePestel and her son Ronnie join other volunteers throughout the country for the Wreaths Across America program that places tributes on the graves of as many veterans as possible every Dec. 15. Macomb County volunteers are taking care of St. Maryís Cemetery, Resurrection Cemetery, Cadillac Memorial Gardens East and Prestonville Cemetery. (Photo submitted by Anne Nicolazzo)

Perhaps as many as 200,000 volunteers will visit about 740 public and private cemeteries throughout the country, at noon on Dec. 15, to take part in the Wreaths Across America mission to “Remember, Honor and Teach.”

For 21 years, wreaths have been placed at Arlington National Cemetery by a Maine business that does that service at no charge.

Volunteers helped expand the program to include many more sites that are the final resting places of people who have served in the nation’s military. Placing wreaths at those graves costs $15 each, and anyone can help.

The color guard of the American Legion Post 4 is the honor guard for a program at Resurrection Cemetery at 18201 Clinton River Road in Clinton Township, where there are more than 6,000 veterans graves.

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Karen Straffon, who coordinated a program at Fern Hill Country Club across from the cemetery prior to the wreath-laying, said there are 719 wreaths coming to Resurrection.

“I think the one thing many people don’t realize is that the placing of the wreaths is much more than just putting a bunch of wreaths on grave stones,” U.S. Marine Corps vet Al Opra said. “Before a wreath is placed, the person placing it sounds that fallen hero’s name and then reflects upon what their service to our country meant. Many graves have the places of battle marked on their headstones. It’s an honor to be a part of this great event.”

The opening at Fern Hill includes the Pledge of Allegiance and national anthem, invocation and a guest speaker representing the Detroit Tank Arsenal. At Resurrection, individuals lay ceremonial wreaths honoring those from the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine, and for our prisoners of war and those still missing in action.

Scout troops and World War II re-enactors from the Michigan Military Technical and Historical Society also participate. The Fourth Degree — known as “the patriotic degree” — Knights of Columbus St. John Neumann Council 478 is participating. The K of C recently established a scholarship program to help fund the education of seminarians preparing to become Catholic chaplains in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Members of Optimist clubs assist with placing wreaths at Resurrection and with their cost. Optimist district governor Barry Burnham said that WAA “is a great community project and a great way to remember our fallen heroes, honor those who serve, and teach our children about the sacrifices made by veterans and their families to preserve our freedoms.”

The American Legion Post 4 honor guard renders a rifle salute and taps.

“We are just so proud to be chosen for this,” Legion member Len Stachnik said.

Ceremonies are coordinated simultaneously at all cemeteries.

People can sponsor wreaths for random veterans’ graves — not at a specific veteran’s grave — for Macomb County and other cemeteries by going to the website WreathsAcrossAmerica.org and donating according to an online order code.

St. Mary’s Cemetery is at 36105 24 Mile Road in New Baltimore and its code is MISMNB. There are 500 veterans graves for which Tammi Graber is coordinating events. Contact her at 586-883-4643.

Graber said that New Baltimore AMVETS Post 52 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post Lempke-Blackwell Post 7573 are sending an honor guard and representatives, respectively. Police will escort a procession from the VFW post to the cemetery after a social hour that honors and photographs World War II vets.

Boy Scouts go out ahead of time and locate and mark graves of veterans with American flags, so that other volunteers know where to place the wreaths.

“It didn’t happen last year because it was cold out, but this year it was warm when the scouts in their uniforms were doing this around Thanksgiving and people came over to ask what they were doing,” Graber said. “People were really touched when the scouts told them: this is a Marine, this is a soldier.

“We located another 12 veterans that day we did not know were veterans. Those boys put a note next to names like “this is a Marine, as per family member.” In talking with these people about someone who fought here or there, or did this or that, these Boy Scouts are really getting the meaning of this, and that is part of the goal of Wreaths Across America,” she said.

The New Baltimore effort includes the Junior ROTC and the Kiwanis-sponsored Key Club from Anchor Bay High School.

“The teenagers unload all the wreaths the day before so everything looks really neat,” Graber said. “The ROTC makes sure no one’s grave is missed.”

Anyone can donate. The St. Mary’s Queen of Creation K of C supported the New Baltimore project with a donation. The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 154 donated $150 each to Resurrection and to Cadillac Memorial Gardens East, for the purchase of wreaths. The chapter’s Operation Christmas deliveries of food and toys is on Dec. 15 so its manpower is focused there this year.

A YouTube video captured a WAA event at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly. It is at youtube.com/watch?v=jH27zsgKXG8

Christina Watts of the Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, said CAP’s Macomb County teenagers and young adults will participate in Holly.

The Water and Woods Boy Scout Council conducts the WAA ceremony this year at the St. Clair Allied Veterans Cemetery in Port Huron. The seven ceremonial wreaths will be placed there to remember those who served, honor their sacrifices and teach younger generations about the high cost of our freedoms. To sponsor a wreath there, call Lisa Fountain at 810-841-5472.

Winter coats for homeless

Several groups are collecting winter clothing for homeless and needy men and women in sizes from small to 4X.

Coats, hats, scarves and gloves for the local Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Grand Rapids Home for Veterans may be dropped off at the VFW Bruce Post 1146 clubroom at 28404 E. Jefferson Ave. in St. Clair Shores, until Jan. 18.

Anette Rosati of the Warren Kiwanis Club is collecting new or gently used coats for distribution to the Macomb Homeless Coalition. Drop off at the Descamps Insurance Agency at 28221 Mound Road in Warren during business hours.

The Mount Clemens Lions Club is helping the Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team with its goal to gather 400 men’s winter coats and pairs of gloves. Drop off items at 165 Crocker Blvd. in Mount Clemens, or call 586-465-2797 for pickup. To join or help the Lions, contact Philip Maniaci at 586-703-6885.

Breakfast with Santa fundraiser

The Richmond Lions Club’s Breakfast with Santa is 8 to 11 a.m. Dec. 15 at the St. Peter Lutheran School cafeteria at 37601 31 Mile Road in Richmond. Children can get scrambled eggs, pancakes, French toast, meat and beverages for free. Donations from adults are appreciated for needy area families. Children can receive free vision screening at the event that includes photos, Leader Dog puppies and a coloring station. For more information, call 586-292-5015 or 586-206-7908.